Questions about ford keys

conartist007 · May 13, 2004

Right now my 98 Tahoe 4x4 has about a 1" front suspension lift consisting of many new after market parts like shocks and control arms, in addition, my torsion bars are cranked a little bit to give it a level height. If i swap in these ford keyways everyone is talking about how much more lift can i get out of the front before drastically reducing ride quality and easily risking snapping a torsion bar? Any help is appreciated, thanks.

Valsport · May 13, 2004

follow this link, it's got more info on effects of cranking t bars than you can shake a stick at:

http://mct.truckmoxie.com/forums/topic.ten...id=79576#682658

conartist007 · May 13, 2004

I know all the bad things about cranking the torsion bars, im just asking how much more can they be kinda-safely be cranked with the ford keys in there?

bfrd22 · May 16, 2004

1st I'll say I don't run the keys. I got 1.5 to 1 3/4 on stock.

Now about ride, It's not going to ride any better with being rekey'd than a stock crank. Your going to top out just the same. As far a stress on the t-bar problably not a an issue. You wouldnt be in creasing the stress on the bar just clocking the stress zone.

The new keys will allow more clocking of the bars how ever I see no way that they can change the nature of the ride. 1 3/4 inches is going to be stiffer (your at the high end of the clock) Regardless if its a Ford Key or factory. If you can get 1.5" out of stock and your happy with it why re-key. It's money thrown away.

Valsport · May 17, 2004

there's no magic height, the more you crank, the steeper your ball joint angles and cv angles are. you've got to decide your lift/risk ratio yourself.

conartist007 · May 17, 2004

Well id like to get another inch out of the front and put in some 1 inch rear blocks in the back, then aybe add a 2" body lift once i get some new tires, but i dont want to go all out and get a 3" body lift, i just dont think they look as good.